In the quaint province of New Brunswick, Canada, a profound story of cultural preservation and identity unfolds, spearheaded by Thandiwe, a poet, community advocate, and founder of the New Brunswick Black Artists Alliance. His journey, marked by a deep passion for words and a commitment to highlighting Black narratives, sheds light on the often-overlooked history of Black New Brunswickers.
Thandiwe’s journey into the realm of words and advocacy is rooted in a childhood love for reading, a passion that evolved into journaling during his teenage years. “I only recently started writing prose and poetry in 2019. But as a child, I loved reading. I kept a journal in my teenage years to keep my thoughts straight,” Thandiwe reflects. His early engagement with literature laid the foundation for his future role as a voice for his community.
Every February, Thandiwe faced a recurring dilemma, an expectation to actively celebrate Black history, which he found overwhelming. “This caused me to have an annual depression every February… It felt wrong to be me in February because I could never articulate the part of myself everyone was so focused on,” he shares. This inner conflict and societal pressure led him to channel his feelings into poetry and essays, offering a creative outlet for his complex experiences as a Black New Brunswicker.
Recognizing the lack of representation and appreciation for Black art in New Brunswick, Thandiwe co-founded the New Brunswick Black Artists Alliance. This initiative aims to spotlight and support Black artists whose work has been overshadowed in the province’s cultural scene. “In the province of New Brunswick, Black art is constantly looked over, erased, and even disrespected… This has left many Black artists feeling that they are not worthy of the heights of creativity that other white artists receive casually and constantly,” he explains.
The Alliance, through art shows and collaborations, seeks to rewrite this narrative, offering Black artists a platform to showcase their talents and affirm their place in the province’s artistic landscape.
Thandiwe’s memoir, “Social Oblivion: Raised Black in Canada,” is a poignant testament to his family’s resilience and the broader struggle of Black New Brunswickers. The book is an effort to ensure that their stories, like many before them, are not lost to the annals of history. “Upon learning that I was a 7th generation Black New Brunswicker, where most of my history was erased, I decided to make sure my family would not be forgotten,” he states.
The memoir transcends the personal, delving into themes of community values and the universal need for mutual respect. “New Brunswick has many problems. My book sheds light on some reasons why our next generation must have stronger characters and the courage to build a better world,” Thandiwe remarks.
Through his writings and advocacy, Thandiwe urges a rethinking of community interactions and the way we nurture future generations. He envisions a society where respect and empathy are paramount: “To start treating each other as family. To treat other people’s children with respect and to be role models for the next generation, so they don’t run away from the places they are born and stay to create the worlds they want to live in.”
Thandiwe’s multifaceted endeavors – as a poet, advocate, and founder of the New Brunswick Black Artists Alliance – are reshaping the narrative of Black Canadians in New Brunswick. His voice and actions are not only reclaiming the erased histories but also paving the way for a more inclusive and empathetic future in the province.
